The internal commerce and manufactures of this county are much facilitated by its canals. The canal fon the car riage of the coal to the Neath river, was the first work of the kind attempted in Wales. There is a bog of two miles, between the colliery and the river, the spongy nature of which, for some time, baffled the skill of the engineers. The length of the canal is little more than three miles ; it was executed entirely at the expellee of a private individu al. The canal from Merthyr Tydvil to Cardiff, was com pleted in 1798 ; it is navigable for barges of 100 tons. In some places it skirts precipitous mountains, at the height of 300 feet above the river Taafe, which it accompanies. The space it passes is 26 miles ; in which there are 40 locks, and as many bridges. The new iron rail-way runs nearly by its side. The fall of the canal is nearly 600 feet. The head of the Swansea canal in Brecknockshire is 372 feet above the level of the Tawy at Swansea bar ; there are 36 locks upon it in the space of 16 miles, and several aque ducts.
As connected with the antiquities of this county, the an cient buildings, called Church-houses, may be mentioned. There are at least fifty of them still remaining in this dis trict. Their origin and use are not accurately known ; but most probably they were the halls in which the courts of legislation and of justice were held for the respective petty lordships of the great lordship of Glamorgan, every one of whom exercised jura regalia. The Roman stations, forts, and camps in this county are generally understood to be at Cardiff, Caerfilly, and Caera. The great Roman road runs
over Newton Down, through Kenfig, Margam, Aberavon, and Neath. But the most celebrated monument of anti quity is Caerfilly castle, now in ruins, said to have been the largest in the kingdom, next to that of Windsor. The wall of the celebrated leaning tower of this castle is still between 70 and 80 feet high, and of a prodigious thickness. It hangs 1 1 feet out of the perpendicular.
It is a very common practice in this county to plant the graves with flowers, or with sweet-scented herbs. No per son ever plucks them up ; but a relation or a friend will gather a little, and wear it in remembrance of the deceased. When a young couple are to be married, their way to church is strewed with sweet-scented flowers and ever greens. About two miles from Cowbridge is a place fa mous for the meeting of the Welsh bards : it took place annually on the 28th of if under the immemorial patron age of the Ilensolt family, at whose expense they were en tertained. The last meeting was held in 1720 ; and in con sequence of the death of Richard Jenkins, the last of the family, it was discontinued.
In the time of the Romans, Glamorganshire was inhabi ted by the Silures : it was, in succeeding ages, an inde pendent principality, which was overrun and divided by some of William's Norman nobles in the year 1038.
By the population returns, there were, in 1311, 8217 families in this county, principally employed in agricul ture, and 7915 in manufactures, Etc. (w. s.)